Grain drier



June 4, 1963 c. D. FIGLI-:Y 3,092,472

GRAIN DRIER a 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E i M l im UW l f *I d IH 'Um W1 lII 'Hh MQW u 31|( li Hip mi F66 vif 1V 40 sa f6 /0 ,d /0 /Z l/v VEN 70/2 CHARLES D. F/GLEY Erm M ATTORNEY June 4, 1963 c. D. FIGLEY 3,092,472

GRAIN DRIER Filed Nov. 23, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ma /04 /6 46a 20 44 l f /a 2 l i sa 46 4Z (H/QL E5 /C/GLEV 14 TTU/QNEX /N VE N TOR.

June 4, 1963 c. D. FIGLEY 3,092,472

GRAIN DRIER Filed Nov. 26. 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 /NVf/V 70A. CHA/2L s D. Haz Ey Arrows/EK United States Patent O 3,092,472 GRADI DRIER Charles D. Figiey, 1266 4th Ave. SE., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Filed Nov. 23, 1959, Ser. No. 854,736 Claims. (Cl. 34-56) 'Ihis invention relates to improvements in grain driers and includes as one of its objects the provision of an improved drier column construction designed to `assure an even tlow of through the grain throughout the entire column.

Another important object contemplated herein is the provision of a variable speed metering wheel for controlling the speed of discharge of the grain from the drier column.

A :further object is to regulate the speed of the metering wheel by a temperature sensing element disposed in the path of hot air flow in one of the column sections.

Further objects and the more obvious advantages of this invention will be mentioned or else appear plainly from the description which dollows.

This invention consists of novel parts `and combination of parts to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set for-th yare attained, as pointed yout in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side perspective view of `this drier column showing in outline an `adjacent house or enclosure for the blowers, heater and other control apparatus,

FIG. 2 is a -top plan view of this drier partly cut away to more clearly indicate the construction of the column sections,

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of this drier taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a lower column section to illustrate the metering wheel,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4, `and FIG. 6 is a reduced schematic yiew taken from the l-ine 6 6 of FIG. 3 to illustrate the connection between the controls for the metering wheel and the sensing element in the column.

Referring to the drawings, I provide a plurality of foundation pedestals -or blocks '16, preferably of concrete or the like, which are in spaced relationship in a circular pattern `and including a support block 12 of similar construction but slightly larger in bearing surface which is disposed under the front portion or" the column as will later appear. Each block A supports a vertically disposed leg designated generally bythe numeral 14 which is suitably anchored thereto. Legs `14 are V-shaped in cross section, having the `diverging sides 16 and 1d with the apex end 26 disposed inwardly as shown in FIG. 2. At the flower end of each leg :14 on opposing `faces of leg sides 16 and 1S, there is secured an upstanding reinforcing member 22 of channel material or the like. `Block 12 carries a verticly disposed modified U-shaped panel 24 (FIG. 2) which serves `as the closure for the =5ront of the rier column 26 `and includes the center section 28 with angul-arly disposed sides 3i! and 32 at respective opposite ends of block 12. The outer end of each side 30 and 32 terminates in the respective -angularly projecting flanges 34 and 36 to which sides of the control house or shed 3S may be secured. Thus arranged, sides 16 and 18 on adjacent legs *14 define vertically `disposed parallel spaced supports to which the column members 46 are mounted as will be described. Likewise, side Sli on panel 24 is similarly positioned Irela-tive to side r16 on leg 14 in a counterclockwise direction, and side 32 on panel 24 has the same relationship to side 18 on leg 14 in a clockwise direction.

Each column member 40 delines a vertically disposed inner passageway or chamber `42 for the downward ow of grain and an adjacent chamber or passageway 44 for the Patented .lune 4, 1963 ilow of air (FIG. 2). Chambers 42 and 44 are preferably rectangular in cross section. The inner side of chamber 42 is delined by a mesh screen wall 46, the outer side yof cham-ber '44 by a solid weather shield panel of sheet metal or the like v48, and che two chambers are divided by `a partition 5d* of wire mesh screen. The screening 46 and Sil and 1weather shield 4S for each column member |46 are suitably secured as by brackets or the like 52 between [adjacent leg sides 16 and 18 of adjacent legs 14 as above indicated. Column members 40 are formed in a series of vertically arranged column sections 5'4 (FIG. 3) whereby the entire drier column structure 26 can be made to variable height Ispecifications with each column member 40 forming one of the sides of the assembled unit 26. Thus arranged, Ithe several column members 40 together with Ithe front panel 24 provide ra central enclosed air chamber divided by door 56 (FIG. 3) int-o the upper hot yair chamber 58 and the lower cold 'air chamber 60. Floor 56 is positioned so that the hot lair chamber 58 represents approximately two-thirds of the center air chamber in column 26. 'I`he (front panel 24 is provided with vertically spaced openings 62 and 64 into the respective chambers 66 and 58 for communication with the respective :hot and cold air blowers 66 and 68 in house 35S Ias shown in FIG. l. No invention -is claimed in blowers 66 yand 68 and they are shown in outline only to illustrate their general relationship to column 26. The upper and lower weather shields 48a and `4317 respectively on each column member 46 are hinged for opening to serve las vents for air chamber 44 and las seen in FIG. l, the upper shield 48a is hinged at the bottom 49` to open outwardly from the top and the -lower shield 48b is hinged at the top 49a to open outwardly lfrom the bottom.

The bottom of the cold air chamber 69 is defined by a solid floor 7 0 and supports a hopper 72 in communication with the grain chambers 42 of t-he respective column members 4l). The outlet end 74 will be spaced above the supporting surface for the block members 10 and 12 and may be connected with any suitable conveyor or the like for carrying the grain to a point of deposit. The top of the hot air chamber 58 is covered by an inverted coneshaped closure 76 which serves as a garner oor in cooperation with the similarly shaped roof 73' disposed in vertical spaced relationship thereto and suitably supported by legs 14. A fill pipe 80 is carried at the apex of roof 7S and as grain is moved therethrough it is deflected by the garner oor 76 into the chambers 42 for movement downwardly to hopper 72. Air from chambers 5S' and 6l) moves through the moving grain by passing through -screens 46 and 50 into chamber 44 where the hot air from chamber 58 is vented out the upper open weather shield 48a and cold air from chamber 60 is vented out the open lower weather shield 48h in the respective column members 40. It will be understood that the grain moves by gravity down chambers 42, which is a common -arrangement in driers of this type, and experience has demonstrated that under certain conditions of humidity and temperature the grain may not always have obtained the desired degree of dryness when it reaches the outlet of the column. Some devices compensate for this by means to re-run the grain through the drier, but I have eliminated the problem by a metering assembly 82 (FIGS. 3 and 5) at the bottom or discharge end of chambers 42 by which the rate of discharge of the grain into hopper 72 can be controlled in relation to temperature and humidity conditions within the column 26. This is accomplished as follows.

At the bottom of each column member 49 there is a metering chamber 84 (FIG. 5) having a restricted opening 86 for communication with the grain chamber 42. Opening 86 is defined by a baille 88 extending downwardly and outwardly from the lower inner side of chamber 42 to the l floor '70 and by another baille 9d extending downwardly and inwardly from the lower outer end of chamber 42.

to a point spaced above floor 7d. These baffles extend Y transveisely of the chamber 42 and baffle 90 isprovided with an outwardly proiecting llange or lip $2 (FG. 4) extending between and secured to adjacent leg sections 16 and 1S on adjacent legs 14. The bottom of the metering chamber S4 is dened by a bottom plate 9d loosely attached at one edge to baffle 8d at point 96 so as to be susceptible of a slight hinge action and on the other edge carries a hook 9S that is yieldingly engaged by a spring or the like 1li() connected to lip 92. Preferably two such springs (FIG. 4) are used for each chamber S4. This permits-plate 94 to yield downwardly as grain passes over it intohopper '72,.

VAn elongated paddle-type metering wheel 162 preferably with tive spaced radially projecting blades, is disposed at the bottom of each column member d@ and transversely of the longitudinal axes thereof as shown in FIG. 4. Each wheel 162 is mounted on a shaft 161i for rotation therewith. Such shafts 161i are all driven from a single source of power located at the lower end of the front panel 24- (FIG. 2), which will be later described in detaiL'and for this purpose are connected as follows. As noted in FIG. 2, my column '26 is preferably made up of six column members or sides 46 and the front side represented by panel 241. Thus, in a counterclockwise direction from'panel 2,4, shafts 164 in the three column members 4Q to vpoint 166 are connected by respective universal joints 103 located in the V opening of each leg 14, and in the opposite direction the other three shafts d` are similarly connected.

To operate shafts 164i, I use several commercially available devices arranged to produce the improved operation of this drier and since no invention is claimed in such devices per se, they are shown only diagrammatically although their function and operation will be explained. With reference now more particularly to FGS. 2, 3 and 6, a variable speed hydraulic drive or Vtransmission 11b is driven from one end by a beit ydrive 112i con-` nected to an electric motor 11dI and both may be mounted on a suitable platform or base 116. While the capacity of motor 114` may be varied, l have found that onequarter or one-third horsepower is adequate. Such motor runs at a constant speed and through the transmission 110 drives shaft 116 on the other end of the transmission. Lever means 12d on the transmission 110 is arranged in a well known manner so that by appropriate movement thereof, the speed of shaft 118 can be varied. Shaft 118 carries a sprocket 121 which connects by chain drive 122 to a sprocket 124 on a jack shaft 126 suitably attached to side 3i) of the front plate 24 and shaft 126 carries another sprocket 126 which connects by chain drive 13d to sprocket 132 on the drive sha-ft 13d. Shaft 134 on respective opposite sides of sprocket 132 is operably connected to the respective two sets of three connected shafts 164 above described. In this way the two sets of conneoted shafts 194 which together define a generally circular pat-h are operated by a single source of power emanating from a central point. Wheels 102 turn with shafts 104 and as shown in HG. 5, wheels 162 are positioned toregulate and control the ow of grain from chambers 42 through openings Se to the hopper 72.

Gne of the important objects herein is to control the passage of grain from chambers 42 so that it will be properly dried as it moves through openings S6 andrto accomplish this, the speed of rotation of Wheels 1li?, is regulated by a temperature sensing element '135 disposed in chamber of one of the column members #tti justv above t-he oor 56 (PEG. 3). `Element 136 connects by leads 133 and 14d to a control switch 142 which is connected by the three leads 144, 1456 and 14S to what is known as a modutrol motor havin-g a reversible shaft 152. Changes in temperatures affecting element 136 are reiiected in the actuation of switch 142 which will i control the rotation of shaft152 in two lopposite directions respectively `depending upon which two of wires 144, 146 .and 14S are in circuit. Shaft 152 carries a link arm 154 secured thereto at one end for rotation therewith and pivotally secured at the other end to link member 156, The other end of link 156 is pivotally secured to lever 12d' and 'byV this linkage assembly described, it will be appreciated that operation of shaft .152 responsive to element 13d will correspondingly move lever 12o to increase or decrease the speed of rotation of shaft 118 and thus correspondingly change the speed of rotation of shafts 1nd carrying the metering wheels V102.

a Motor 150 is connected by .leads -158 and 160 to a source of electrical power (not shown).

- By locating element 136 in the air lflow chamber 44 of one of the columns il it operates in response to temperature changes in air coming oi of the lgrain in chamber i2 and since humidity will affect the accurate temperature reading, 'element 136 in controlling the operation of the metering wheel 162 will reilect the etlect of the humidity at a point outside of the grain chamber 42. This has proved to Ibe more satisfactory in discharging 'the grain with the desired moisture content than a temperature sensing element in chamber 42 or 58 where actual temperatures are not always the same as outside of such chambers.

lt is submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suited to achieve the purposes intended and is character-ized by a combination of highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine their respective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objects sought to be obtained.

lt will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description .and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement `of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. lt is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or -mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included withintbeir scope. Y

' I claim:

l. In a grain drier construction, a vertically disposed front panel, a plurality of vertically disposed substantially rectangular column members disposed in a generally curved path and extending from one side of said panel to the other, means supporting said column members, each Acolumn member angularly disposed relative to an adjacent column member at an angle greater than ninety degrees, means in each column forming a grain flow chamber and an air flow chamber, vent means in said air flow chamber, a shaft transversely disposed at the lbottom of each column member and rotatably mounted, a metering wheel on each shaft for rotation therewith, said metering wheelsdisposed to control the ilow of grain from said respective grain ow chambers, universal joint means connecting the shafts in one series of contiguous column members into one drivable unit, the shafts in another series of contiguous column members'similarly connected, saidrtwo series comprising all of said columns, a variable speed motor fmeans operably connected to both drivable units for simultaneously rotating the shafts therein, a speed control means on said motor V tion block members in a spaced circular pattern, a vertically disposed leg supported on each block member, a support block intermediate and spaced from two of said block members as a part of said circular pattern, a vertical panel of U-shaped cross section carried by said support block to define a front side, a respective column member in the space intermediate each adjacent pair of said legs and secured at opposite edges to adjacent legs and with two of said columns secured at one respective edge to respective opposite sides of said panel to define side members and form a central air chamber, a bottom oor in said chamber, an intermediate floor therein spaced above said bottom fioor to divide said air chamber into an upper hot air chamber and a lower cold air chamber, said column members each having an inner wire mesh wall, a solid outer wall serving as a weather shield, and a wire mesh partition wall intermediate said inner and outer walls, the zone intermediate said inner wall and partition defining a grain fiow chamber, the zone between said outer wall and partition defining an air flow chamber, air vents at the lower and upper ends of said outer wall, said hot air chamber adapted to receive a forced hot air flow, said cold air chamber adapted to receive a cold air flow, an inverted cone-shaped garner enclosing the top of said central air chamber and designed to direct the iiow of grain into said respective grain flow chambers, a roof over said garner, a i'ill pipe in said roof, a hopper at the bottom of said columns communicating with said grain flow chambers, a metering chamber at the bottom of each column member forming a grain discharge opening in the grain ow chamber, a rotatable paddle-type metering wheel in each metering chamber adapted to rotate across said discharge opening to permit the discharge of grain therefrom, an electrically operated variable speed means operably connected to said wheels for rotating the same, means responsive to temperature in one of said air flow chambers and operably connected to an electrical control switch, said switch being actuated by said temperature responsive means and operatively connected to said variable speed means for activating the same whereby the speed of rotation of said wheels is respectively increased or decreased according to respective increases or decreases in temperature in said air flow chamber.

3. In a grain drier construction, a plurality of foundation block members in a spaced circular pattern, a vertically disposed leg supported on each block member, a support block intermediate and spaced from two of said block members as a part of said circular pattern, a vertical panel of U-shaped cross section carried by said support block to define a front side, a respective column member in the space intermediate each adjacent pair of said legs and secured at opposite edges to adjacent legs and with two of said columns secured at one respective edge to respective opposite sides of said panel to define side members and form a central air chamber, a bottom iioor in said chamber, an intermediate floor therein spaced above said bottom floor to divide said air chamber into an upper hot air chamber and a lower cold air chamber, said column members each having an inner Wire mesh wall, a solid outer Wall serving as a weather shield, and a wire mesh partition wall intermediate said inner and outer walls, the zone intermediate said inner wall and partition defining a grain iiow chamber, the zone between said outer wall and partition defining an air flow chamber, air vents at the lower and upper ends of said outer wall, said hot air chamber adapted to receive a forced hot air iiow, said cold air chamber adapted to receive a cold air flow, an inverted cone-shaped garner enclosing the top of said central air chamber and designed to direct the flow of grain into said respective grain iiow chambers, a roo-f over said garner, a fill pipe in said roof, and a hopper at the bottom of said columns communicating with said grain flow chambers.

4. In a grain drier construction, a plurality of vertically disposed spaced legs arranged in a circular pattern, a vertical panel intermediate two adjacent legs defining a front side, a respective column member in the space intermediate each adjacent pair of the said legs and secured at opposite edges to adjacent legs and with two of said columns secured at one respective edge to respective opposite sides of said panel to define side members and form a central air chamber, a bottom floor in said chamber, an intermediate oor therein spaced above said bottom oor to divide said air chamber into an upper hot air chamber and a lower cold air chamber, said column members each having an inner foraminous wall, an outer solid wall and an intermediate foraminous Wall, said foraminous walls defining a grain flow chamber and said outer wall and intermediate Wall defining an air ow chamber, air Vents in said outer wall, garner means at the top of said central air chamber, hopper means at the bottom thereof, a metering chamber at the bottom of each column member forming a grain discharge opening in the grain flow chamber, a rotatable paddle-type metering wheel in each metering chamber adapted to rotate across said discharge opening to permit the discharge of grain therefrom, an electricoperated variable speed means operably connected to said wheels for rotating the same, means responsive to ternperature in one of said air ow chambers and operably connected to an electrical control switch, said switch being actuated by said temperature responsive means and operatively connected to said variable speed means for activating the same whereby the speed of rotation of said wheels is respectively increased or decreased according to respective increases and decreases in the temperature in said air flow chamber.

5. In a grain drier construction, a vertically disposed front panel, a plurality of vertically disposed substantially rectangular column members disposed in a generally curved path and extending from one side of said panel to the other, means supporting said column members, means dividing each column to form a grain ow chamber and an air liow chamber, vent means in said air flow chamber, a shaft transversely disposed at the bottom of each column member and -rotatably mounted, a metering wheel on each shaft -for rotation therewith, said metering wheels disposed to control the iiow of grain from said respective grain iiow chambers, universal joint means connecting the shafts in one series of immediately adjacent column members into a single drivable unit, the shafts in the other immediately adjacent column members similarly connected, said two series comprising all of said columns, a single source of power operably connected to both drivable units for simultaneously rotating the shafts therein, electrically actuated variable speed transmission means operably connected to said shafts for varying the speed of rotation thereof, an electric control switch connected to said variable speed transmission means, and means responsive to temperature in one of said air fiow chambers and electrically connected to said control switch for actuating the same according to predetermined settings to respectively increase or decrease the speed of rotation of said shafts according to respective increases or decreases in temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 912,322 Pietsch Feb. 16, 1909 1,150,996 Carr Aug. 24, 1915 1,191,753 Wegner July 18, 1916 1,210,166 Hess Dec. 26, 1916 1,482,812 Roberts Feb. 5, 1924 1,558,119 Sherban Oct. 20, 1925 2,439,741 Lilly Apr. 13, 1948 2,676,095 Vaney et al. Apr. 20, 1954 2,732,630 Markowich Jan. 31, 1956 2,745,484 Eckstrom et al. May 15, 1956 2,858,620 Naylor Nov. 4, 1958 2,991,559 Pierpoint July 11, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 88,011 Germany Ang. 10, 1896 

2. IN A GRAIN DRIER CONSTRUCTION, A PLURALITY OF FOUNDATION BLOCK MEMBERS IN A SPACED CIRCULAR PATTERN, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED LEG SUPPORTED ON EACH BLOCK MEMBER, A SUPPORT BLOCK INTERMEDIATE AND SPACED FROM TWO OF SAID BLOCK MEMBERS AS A PART OF SAID CIRCULAR PATTERN, A VERTICAL PANEL OF U-SHAPED CROSS SECTION CARRIED BY SAID SUPPORT BLOCK TO DEFINE A FRONT SIDE, A RESPECTIVE COLUMN MEMBER IN THE SPACE INTERMEDIATE EACH ADJACENT PAIR OF SAID LEGS AND SECURED AT OPPOSITE EDGES TO ADJACENT LEGS AND WITH TOW OF SAID COLUMNS SECURED AT ONE RESPECTIVE EDGE TO RESPCTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PANEL TO DEFINE SIDE MEMBERS AND FORM A CENTRAL AIR CHAMBER, A BOTTOM FLOOR IN SAID CHAMBER, AN INTERMEDIATE FLOOR THEREIN SPACED ABOVE SAID BOTTOM FLOOR TO DIVIDE SAID AIR CHAMBER INTO AN UPPER HOT AIR CHAMBER AND A LOWER COLD AIR CHAMBER, SAID COLUMN MEMBERS EACH HAVING AN INNER WIRE MESH WALL, A SOLID OUTER WALL SERVING AS A WEATHER, SHIELD AND A WIRE MESH PARTITION WALL INTERMEDIATE SAID INNER AND OUTER WALLS, THE ZONE INTERMEDIATE SAID INNER WALL AND PARTION DEFINING A GRAIN FLOW CHAMBER, THE ZONE BETWEEN SAID OUTER WALL AND PARTITION DEFINING AN AIR FLOW CHAMBER, AIR VENTS AT THE LOWER AND UPPER ENDS OF SAID OUTER WALL, SAID HOT AIR CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A FORCED HOT AIR FLOW, SAID COLD AIR CHAMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A COLD AIR FLOW AN INVERTED CONE-SHAPED GARNER ENCLOSING THE TOP OF SAID CENTRAL AIR CHAMBER AND DESIGNED TO DIRECT THE FLOW OF GRAIN INTO SAID RESPCTIVE GRAIN FLOW CHAMBERS, A ROOF OVER SAID GRANER, A FILL PIPE IN SAID ROOF, A HOPPER AT THE BOTTOM OF SAID COLUMNS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID 